DOCSLIB.ORG

Limiting Medusahead Invasion and Impacts in the Great Basin

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Limiting Medusahead Invasion and Impacts in the Great Basin Number 2 • 2015 #850 Limiting Medusahead Invasion and Impacts in the Great Basin Medusahead (Taeniatherum caput-medusae) is an exotic winter annual grass from Eurasia, and was first reported in Purpose: To provide managers with strategies to North America in the 1880s. It occurs across a broad range of reduce the spread and impact of medusahead. climatic and soil conditions. Medusahead can occur on sites receiving from 250 to 1000 mm (10-40 in) of precipitation. Medusahead is most problematic on fine-textured soils below In Brief: 1524 m (5000 ft), but can occur at higher elevations and on more coarse-textured, well-drained soils. • Medusahead invasions decrease biodiversity, degrade wildlife habitat, reduce livestock forage, It is critical to limit the spread and impact of medusahead increase the risk of frequent wildfires, and change invasion because it decreases biodiversity, degrades wild- how ecosystems function. life habitat, reduces livestock forage, increases the risk of frequent wildfires, and changes how ecosystems function • Seed dispersal occurs primarily via vehicles and (Young 1992; Davies and Svejcar 2008; Davies 2011). There animals. are three primary tactics to limiting medusahead invasion • Short-distance dispersal can be reduced by and subsequent negative impacts: 1) reduce seed dispersal, 2) applying selective herbicides, and planting maintain or increase plant community resistance to invasion, competitive vegetation (such as perennial and 3) use early detection and eradication of new infestations grasses) around infestations. in non-invaded areas. • Long-distance dispersal requires limiting contact Reducing Seed Dispersal with vectors, maintaining “weed-free” zones, and Most medusahead seeds only disperse a few meters (Davies controlling livestock rotations in infested areas. 2008) from the parent plant. Longer distance seed dispersal happens primarily by humans (often via vehicles) and ani- mals (Davies et al. 2013). Strategies for reducing short-distance dispersal: • Reducing short-distance spread can be accomplished by applying selective herbicides around infestations. Applying pre-emergent herbicides in the fall can effectively control medusahead and minimize damage to perennial vegetation. • Planting competitive vegetation, such as crested wheat- grass (Agropyron cristatum), around the infestations can also reduce the spread (Davies et al. 2010). Strategies for reducing long-distance dispersal: Reducing long-distance dispersal requires limiting contact by vehicles, animals, and humans with medusahead seeds and cleaning seeds off when contact occurs. • Maintaining medusahead-free zones (usually with herbi- cides) along roads and trails can reduce the spread of medu- sahead seeds. Figure 1: Medusahead seed head in an invaded area. - 1 - • If medusahead-free zones cannot be maintained, some roads may need to be closed during times when seeds can be readi- ly dispersed. • Vehicles (especially fire suppression, off-road, and con- struction equipment) and gear, clothes, and shoes, should be cleaned after travelling through or working in medusahead invaded areas. • Livestock should not be moved directly from infested fields to un-invaded areas. Pasture rotations should minimize livestock contact with infestations when seeds can be readily dispersed. Resisting Medusahead Invasion The composition of the plant community is critical in de- termining resistance to medusahead invasion. In the Great Basin, a reduction in medusahead establishment is linked to increases in perennial bunchgrass abundance (Figure 2). It is necessary to maintain intact perennial bunchgrass commu- nities and restore degraded bunchgrass communities to limit medusahead invasion. • Carefully managed livestock grazing is crucial to maintain resistance to medusahead invasion. Livestock grazing during the growing season should be moderate (~40% utilization) Figure 2. Relationship between medusahead densi- or less. Managers should avoid repeated use over growing ty and perennial grass density. Adapted from Davies seasons and incorporate periods of grazing rest. Complete (2008). TACA = medusahead, PG = perennial grasses, grazing exclusion likely has varying effects, but the accumu- AG = annual grasses excluding TACA. lation of fine fuels in the absence of livestock grazing may increase fire risk, potential fire severity, and post-fire annual • Priority for surveying should concentrate first along roads, grass invasion in some situations (Davies et al. 2009). secondarily along animal trails, and then at random locations, • Managers need to minimize disturbances (e.g., construction, because roads are most likely the vector pathway for medu- catastrophic wildfire, non-selective herbicide application) sahead spread into new areas (Davies et al. 2013). Roadsides that reduce the perennial herbaceous understory, because this often are also an ideal environment for medusahead estab- will increase the probability of medusahead invasion. lishment. • Perennial bunchgrasses need to be re-established after • Managers might prioritize a survey near an existing infesta- disturbances that result in significant bunchgrass mortality, tion, because medusahead seed abundance and likelihood of otherwise medusahead or other exotic annual species may fill establishing new infestations are much greater near existing open spaces in the plant community. infestations. • Managers can monitor trends in bunchgrass abundance, and • They should survey more extensively within recently dis- improve management if a negative trend is detected. turbed areas where susceptibility to invasion is greater. Early Detection and Eradication • New infestations in uninvaded areas should be targeted for eradication. Management to limit the dispersal of medusahead, and increase the resistance of plant communities to invasion is • Areas that received control treatments should be routine- highly effective, but will not prevent all medusahead es- ly monitored to ensure treatments are successful and are tablishment opportunities in previously uninvaded areas.It re-treated as necessary. Revegetation may be necessary to is very important to detect new infestations and implement prevent re-invasion of treated areas. management plans to eradicate them. Limiting the spread and impact of medusahead requires • A survey plan that outlines inventory techniques, the survey involvement from all stakeholders. It is vital that stakehold- area, and survey time periods is critical for success (Sheley et ers are informed about medusahead impacts and the efforts al. 2003). needed to prevent spread and negative impact. - 2 - Authors Davies, K.W., A.M. Nafus, and R.L. Sheley. 2010. Non-na- tive competitive perennial grass impedes the spread of an Kirk W. Davies invasive annual grass. Biological Invasions 12:3187-3194. Agricultural Research Service, Burns Unit [email protected] Davies, K.W., and T.J. Svejcar. 2008. Comparison of me- dusahead-invaded and noninvaded Wyoming big sagebrush Dustin Johnson steppe in southeastern Oregon. Rangeland Ecology & Man- Department of Animal and Rangeland Sciences, OSU agement 61:623-629. [email protected] Davies, K.W., T.J. Svejcar, and J.D. Bates. 2009. Interaction References of historical and non-historical disturbances maintains native Davies, K.W. 2008. Medusahead dispersal and establishment plant communities. Ecological Applications 19:1536-1545. in sagebrush steppe plant communities. Rangeland Ecology Sheley, R.L., S. Kedzie-Webb, and B.D. Maxwell. 2003. & Management 61:110-115. Integrated weed management on rangelands. Pages 57–68 in Davies, K.W. 2011. Plant community diversity and native Sheley, R.L. and J.K. Petroff, eds. Biology and management plant abundance decline with increasing abundance of an of noxious rangeland weeds. Oregon State University Press. exotic annual grass. Oecologia 167:481-491. Corvallis, OR. Davies, K.W., A.M. Nafus, and M.D. Madsen. 2013. Medu- Young, J.A. 1992. Ecology and management of medusahead sahead invasion along unimproved roads, animal trails, and (Taeniatherum caput-medusae ssp. asperum (Simk.) Melde- random transects. Western North American Naturalist 73:54- ris). Great Basin Naturalist 52: 245-252. 59. Great Basin Factsheets are developed and produced collaboratively by the following groups: - 3 -.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Molecular Analyses of the Genera Eremopyrum (Ledeb.) Jaub
    Pak. J. Bot., 46(3): 769-774, 2014. MOLECULAR ANALYSES OF THE GENERA EREMOPYRUM (LEDEB.) JAUB. & SPACH AND AGROPYRON GAERTNER (POACEAE) BY PCR METHODS REMZİYE YILMAZ1, EVREN CABİ2* AND MUSA DOGAN3 1Middle East Technical University, Central Laboratory, Molecular Biology & Biotechnology R&D Center, 06530, Ankara, Turkey 2Namık Kemal University, Department of Biology, 59030 Tekirdağ, Turkey, 3Middle East Technical University, Department of Biological Sciences, 06530, Ankara-Turkey *Corresponding author’s e-mail: [email protected]; [email protected]; Ph: +90-282-2502670 Abstract RAPD-PCR (Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA Polymerase Chain Reaction) and Post PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction) Melting Curve Analysis (MCA) have been used to investigate the pattern of genetic variation among some species in the genera Eremopyrum (Ledeb.) Jaub. & Spach and Agropyron Gaertner (Poaceae). Thirteen primers have been used in the study based on the RAPD-PCR and MCA analyses. Each species produced a distinct pattern of DNA fragments which have been used as a measure of the degree of relationship between species by means of using the RAPD-PCR results with three primers selected for identifying the genetic similarities. Polymorphic melting profiles have been obtained with Post PCR MCA method using three primers. Genetic similarities are calculated for all the species studied with RAPD-PCR and MCA methods, the dendrograms are obtained with the MVSP (Multi Variate Statistical Package) software using UPGMA (Unweighted Pair Group Method with Arithmetic Averages) and Jaccard’s Coefficient. Polymorphism between 18 populations of Eremopyrum and 6 Agropyron populations and within the species are determined by using RAPD-PCR and Post PCR melting curve analysis (MCA) respectively.
    [Show full text]
  • Variation in Sagebrush Communities Historically Seeded with Crested Wheatgrass in the Eastern Great Basin
    See discussions, stats, and author profiles for this publication at: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/317351426 Variation in Sagebrush Communities Historically Seeded with Crested Wheatgrass in the Eastern Great Basin Article in Rangeland Ecology & Management · June 2017 DOI: 10.1016/j.rama.2017.05.003 CITATION READS 1 6 5 authors, including: Lesley Morris Thomas A. Monaco Oregon State University Agricultural Research Service 29 PUBLICATIONS 140 CITATIONS 99 PUBLICATIONS 1,391 CITATIONS SEE PROFILE SEE PROFILE Some of the authors of this publication are also working on these related projects: Sichuan Basin vegetation inventory View project All content following this page was uploaded by Thomas A. Monaco on 11 October 2017. The user has requested enhancement of the downloaded file. Rangeland Ecology & Management 70 (2017) 683–690 Contents lists available at ScienceDirect Rangeland Ecology & Management journal homepage: http://www.elsevier.com/locate/rama Variation in Sagebrush Communities Historically Seeded with Crested ☆ Wheatgrass in the Eastern Great Basin Justin R. Williams a,LesleyR.Morrisb, Kevin L. Gunnell c, Jamin K. Johanson d,ThomasA.Monacoa,⁎ a Forage and Range Research Laboratory, US Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, Logan, UT 84322, USA b Department of Animal and Rangeland Sciences, Oregon State University, La Grande, OR 97850, USA c Great Basin Research Center, Utah Division of Wildlife Resources, Ephraim, UT 84627, USA d Natural Resources Conservation Service, US Department of Agriculture, Dover-Foxcroft, ME 04426, USA article info abstract Article history: Although crested wheatgrass (Agropyron cristatum [L.] Gaertn. & A. desertorum [Fisch. ex Link] Schult.) has been Received 16 April 2016 one of the most commonly seeded exotic species in the western United States, long-term successional trajecto- Received in revised form 26 April 2017 ries of seeded sites are poorly characterized, especially for big sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata Nutt.) ecosystems Accepted 8 May 2017 in the Great Basin.
    [Show full text]
  • ISTA List of Stabilized Plant Names 7Th Edition
    ISTA List of Stabilized Plant Names th 7 Edition ISTA Nomenclature Committee Chair: Dr. M. Schori Published by All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be The Internation Seed Testing Association (ISTA) reproduced, stored in any retrieval system or transmitted Zürichstr. 50, CH-8303 Bassersdorf, Switzerland in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without prior ©2020 International Seed Testing Association (ISTA) permission in writing from ISTA. ISBN 978-3-906549-77-4 ISTA List of Stabilized Plant Names 1st Edition 1966 ISTA Nomenclature Committee Chair: Prof P. A. Linehan 2nd Edition 1983 ISTA Nomenclature Committee Chair: Dr. H. Pirson 3rd Edition 1988 ISTA Nomenclature Committee Chair: Dr. W. A. Brandenburg 4th Edition 2001 ISTA Nomenclature Committee Chair: Dr. J. H. Wiersema 5th Edition 2007 ISTA Nomenclature Committee Chair: Dr. J. H. Wiersema 6th Edition 2013 ISTA Nomenclature Committee Chair: Dr. J. H. Wiersema 7th Edition 2019 ISTA Nomenclature Committee Chair: Dr. M. Schori 2 7th Edition ISTA List of Stabilized Plant Names Content Preface .......................................................................................................................................................... 4 Acknowledgements ....................................................................................................................................... 6 Symbols and Abbreviations ..........................................................................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • Abundances of Coplanted Native Bunchgrasses and Crested Wheatgrass After 13 Years☆,☆☆
    Rangeland Ecology & Management 68 (2015) 211–214 Contents lists available at ScienceDirect Rangeland Ecology & Management journal homepage: http://www.elsevier.com/locate/rama Abundances of Coplanted Native Bunchgrasses and Crested Wheatgrass after 13 Years☆,☆☆ Aleta M. Nafus a,⁎, Tony J. Svejcar b,DavidC.Ganskoppc,KirkW.Daviesd a Graduate Student, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR 97330, USA b Research Leader, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, Burns, OR 97720, USA c Emeritus Rangeland Scientist, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, Burns, OR 97720, USA d Rangeland Scientist, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, Burns, OR 97720, USA article info abstract Keywords: Crested wheatgrass (Agropyron cristatum [L] Gaertm) has been seeded on more than 5 million hectares in Agropyron cristatum western North America because it establishes more readily than native bunchgrasses. Currently, there is restoration substantial interest in reestablishing native species in sagebrush steppe, but efforts to reintroduce native revegetation grasses into crested wheatgrass stands have been largely unsuccessful, and little is known about the sagebrush steppe long-term dynamics of crested wheatgrass/native species mixes. We examined the abundance of crested wheatgrass and seven native sagebrush steppe bunchgrasses planted concurrently at equal low densities in nongrazed and unburned plots. Thirteen years post establishment, crested wheatgrass was the dominant bunchgrass, with a 10-fold increase in density. Idaho fescue (Festuca idahoensis Elmer), Thurber’s needlegrass (Achnatherum thurberianum (Piper) Barkworth), basin wildrye (Leymus cinereus [Scribn. & Merr.] A. Löve), and Sandberg bluegrass (Poa secunda J. Presl) maintained their low planting density, whereas bluebunch wheatgrass (Pseudoroegneria spicata [Pursh] A.
    [Show full text]
  • Crested Wheatgrass (Agropyron Cristatum) Seedings in Western Colorado: What Can We Learn?
    Management of Biological Invasions (2012) Volume 3, Issue 2: 89–96 doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.3391/mbi.2012.3.2.03 Open Access © 2012 The Author(s). Journal compilation © 2012 REABIC Research Article Crested wheatgrass (Agropyron cristatum) seedings in Western Colorado: What can we learn? M. Nikki Grant-Hoffman*, Amanda Clements, Anna Lincoln and James Dollerschell Colorado National Landscape Conservation System, Bureau of Land Management, Grand Junction Field Office, USA E-mail: [email protected] (MNGH), [email protected] (AC), [email protected] (AL), [email protected] (JD) *Corresponding author Received: 17 September 2012 / Accepted: 10 October 2012 / Published online: 15 December 2012 Handling editor: Elias Dana, University of Almeria, Spain Abstract Non-native species have been widely transported, becoming components of ecosystems worldwide. In some cases this can change the structure and function of an ecosystem. Crested wheatgrass (Agropyron cristatum, Agropyron spp.) was introduced into the Western U.S. in the late 18th and early 19th centuries. Since introduction, it has been planted in western rangelands currently occupying millions of acres. Crested wheatgrass causes significant changes in areas where it dominates the vegetation, and restoring rangelands planted with crested wheatgrass to higher plant diversity and ecosystem function has been met with limited success. Here we revisit historical frequency monitoring data collected in western Colorado on public lands that were planted with crested wheatgrass between 1940 and 1980. We also monitored vegetation before and after mechanical treatment (removal of vegetation with the use of a dixie harrow pulled behind a tractor) and re-seeding of desirable species in three areas dominated by crested wheatgrass.
    [Show full text]
  • Production of Embryo-Callus-Regenerated Hybrids Between Triticum Aestivum and Agropyron Cristatum Possessing One B Chromosome Q Chen, J Jahier, Y Cauderon
    Production of embryo-callus-regenerated hybrids between Triticum aestivum and Agropyron cristatum possessing one B chromosome Q Chen, J Jahier, Y Cauderon To cite this version: Q Chen, J Jahier, Y Cauderon. Production of embryo-callus-regenerated hybrids between Triticum aestivum and Agropyron cristatum possessing one B chromosome. Agronomie, EDP Sciences, 1992, 12 (7), pp.551-555. hal-00885499 HAL Id: hal-00885499 https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-00885499 Submitted on 1 Jan 1992 HAL is a multi-disciplinary open access L’archive ouverte pluridisciplinaire HAL, est archive for the deposit and dissemination of sci- destinée au dépôt et à la diffusion de documents entific research documents, whether they are pub- scientifiques de niveau recherche, publiés ou non, lished or not. The documents may come from émanant des établissements d’enseignement et de teaching and research institutions in France or recherche français ou étrangers, des laboratoires abroad, or from public or private research centers. publics ou privés. Plant improvement Production of embryo-callus-regenerated hybrids between Triticum aestivum and Agropyron cristatum possessing one B chromosome Q Chen J Jahier Y Cauderon 1 INRA, Station d’Amélioration des Plantes, BP 29, 35650 Le Rheu; 2 INRA, Station d’Amélioration des Plantes, 78026 Versailles Cedex, France (Received 13 February 1992; accepted 18 May 1992) Summary — Plant regeneration from immature intergeneric embryos through direct callus induction was investigated in the case of hybridization between T aestivum cv Chinese Spring (2n = 6x = 42, AABBDD) and A cristatum 4x with one B chromosome (2n = 4x = 28 + 1 B, PPPP). Twenty-three abnormal immature hybrid embryos were directly cul- tured on MS solid medium with 2 mg / L 2,4-D to induce calli which were then transferred to hormone free MS medium for plant regeneration.
    [Show full text]
  • Efficacy of Strychnine and Zinc Phosphide Cabbage Baits in Controlling Ground Squirrels in Diamond Valley, Nevada
    Efficacy of Strychnine and Zinc Phosphide Cabbage Baits in Controlling Ground Squirrels in Diamond Valley, Nevada John Balliette JBR Environmental Consultants, Elko, Nevada John M. O’Brien Nevada Department of Agriculture, Reno, Nevada John D. Eisemann USDA APHIS Wildlife Services, National Wildlife Research Center, Fort Collins, Colorado ABSTRACT: A field trial was conducted to determine the efficacy of strychnine and zinc phosphide cabbage baits for controlling ground squirrels in Diamond Valley, Nevada. The reduction in aboveground ground squirrel activity was 83% for strychnine and 70% for zinc phosphide. Similar results were found for reductions in burrow activity: 88% for strychnine and 70% for zinc phosphide. Strychnine appeared to be slightly more effective than zinc phosphide, but both appeared to be effective for ground squirrel control. KEY WORDS: alfalfa, efficacy, ground squirrels, Nevada, rodenticides, Spermophilus spp., strychnine, timothy, zinc phosphide Proc. 22nd Vertebr. Pest Conf. (R. M. Timm and J. M. O’Brien, Eds.) Published at Univ. of Calif., Davis. 2006. Pp. 151-155. INTRODUCTION Nevada (Figure 1). The elevation of the valley floor is This report summarizes a field trial on the efficacy of approximately 5,900 feet above mean sea level. strychnine and zinc phosphide cabbage baits for controlling ground squirrels in Diamond Valley, Nevada. JBR Soils Environmental Consultants, Inc. (JBR) conducted this Soils in the study area are primarily well-drained loams. evaluation on behalf of the Diamond Valley Rodent Control The treated plots of this study were located on two different District and the Nevada Department of Agriculture (NDOA). soil series, the Alhambra Series and the Silverado Series.
    [Show full text]
  • Northwest Quadrant Recommended Plant Species and Prohibited Noxious Weed Species
    Northwest Quadrant Recommended Plant Species and Prohibited Noxious Weed Species Recommended Plant List The following plant species list is recommended for the Northwest Quadrant of Salt Lake City. Moisture gradient and soil types, will dictate which species will result in successful establishment. Grasses Nuttalls alkaligrass (Puccinnellia nuttalliana) Western wheatgrass (Pascopyrum smithii) Bottlebrush squirreltail (Elymus elymoides) Saltgrass (Distichlis spicata) Alkali Sacaton (Sporobolus airoides) Crested wheatgrass (Agropyron cristatum) Perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne) Russian Wildrye (Psathrostachys juncea) Field sedge (Carex praegracilis) Great Basin Wildrye (Elymus cinereus) Wiregrass (Juncus balticus) James’ Galleta (Hilaria jamesii Indian Rice Grass (Achnatherum hymenoides) Forbs/Wildflowers Annual sunflower (Helianthus annuus) Scarlet globemallow (Sphaeralcea coccinea) Alfalfa (Medicago sativa) Blueleaf or Gray Aster (Aster glaucodes) White Sagebrush (Artemisia ludoviciana) Spiny Milkvetch (Astragalus kentrophyta) Woolly Locoweed (Astragalus mollissimus) Utah Fleabane (Erigeron utahensis) Wild Buckwheat (Eriogonum sp.) Scarlet Beeblossom (Gaura coccinea) Blue Flax (Linum lewisii) White-stemmed or Pale Evening Primrose (Oenothera pallida) Firecracker Penstemon (Penstemon eatonii) Fremont’s Beardtongue (Penstemon fremontii) Palmer’s Penstemon (Penstemon palmeri) Utah Penstemon (Penstemon utahensis) Ballhead Gilia (Ballhead gilia) Devilweed Aster (Aster spinosus) Blanket Flower (Gaillardia aristata) Globemallow (Sphaeralcea
    [Show full text]
  • Downloaded Data from the Western Regional Climate Center at the Desert Research Institute ( (Accessed on 1 March 2015))
    fire Article The Effect of Seeding Treatments and Climate on Fire Regimes in Wyoming Sagebrush Steppe Chris Bowman-Prideaux 1,*, Beth A. Newingham 2 and Eva K. Strand 1 1 Department of Forest, Rangeland, and Fire Sciences, University of Idaho, Moscow, ID 83844, USA; [email protected] 2 Great Basin Rangelands Research Unit, Agricultural Research Service, Reno, NV 89512, USA; [email protected] * Correspondence: [email protected] Abstract: Wildfire size and frequency have increased in the western United States since the 1950s, but it is unclear how seeding treatments have altered fire regimes in arid steppe systems. We analyzed how the number of fires since 1955 and the fire return interval and frequency between 1995 and 2015 responded to seeding treatments, anthropogenic features, and abiotic landscape variables in Wyoming big sagebrush ecosystems. Arid sites had more fires than mesic sites and fire return intervals were shortest on locations first treated between 1975 and 2000. Sites drill seeded before the most recent fire had fewer, less frequent fires with longer fire return intervals (15–20 years) than aerially seeded sites (intervals of 5–8 years). The response of fire regime variables at unseeded sites fell between those of aerial and drill seeding. Increased moisture availability resulted in decreased fire frequency between 1994 and 2014 and the total number of fires since 1955 on sites with unseeded and aerially pre-fire seeding, but fire regimes did not change when drill seeded. Greater annual grass biomass likely contributed to frequent fires in the arid region. In Wyoming big sagebrush steppe, drill seeding treatments reduced wildfire risk relative to aerial seeded or unseeded sites.
    [Show full text]
  • Growing Wild: Crested Wheatgrass and the Landscape of Belonging Lafe Gerald Conner Utah State University
    Utah State University DigitalCommons@USU All Graduate Theses and Dissertations Graduate Studies, School of 12-1-2008 Growing Wild: Crested Wheatgrass and the Landscape of Belonging Lafe Gerald Conner Utah State University Recommended Citation Conner, Lafe Gerald, "Growing Wild: Crested Wheatgrass and the Landscape of Belonging" (2008). All Graduate Theses and Dissertations. Paper 22. http://digitalcommons.usu.edu/etd/22 This Thesis is brought to you for free and open access by the Graduate Studies, School of at DigitalCommons@USU. It has been accepted for inclusion in All Graduate Theses and Dissertations by an authorized administrator of DigitalCommons@USU. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Take a 1 Minute Survey- http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/ BTVT6FR GROWING WILD: CRESTED WHEATGRASS AND THE LANDSCAPE OF BELONGING by Lafe Conner A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of MASTER OF ARTS in History Approved: ______________ ________________________ Chris Conte Thomas Jones Major Professor Committee Member __________________ ________________________ David Rich Lewis Byron R. Burnham Committee Member Dean of Graduate Studies UTAH STATE UNIVERSITY Logan, Utah 2008 ii Copyright © Lafe Conner 2008 All Rights Reserved iii ABSTRACT Growing Wild: Crested Wheatgrass and the Landscapes of Belonging by Lafe Conner, Master of Arts Utah State University, 2008 Major Professor: Dr. Chris Conte Department: History Crested wheatgrass arrived in North America at the turn of the twentieth century through the foreign plant exploration missions sponsored by the United States Department of Agriculture. During the first two decades of the new century, scientists tested the grass at agricultural experiment stations. They determined it was useful for grazing and particularly valuable because it could grow in drought conditions with little or no care and would continue to produce high quality feed even after several years of heavy use.
    [Show full text]
  • 'Ephraim' Crested Wheatgrass (Agropyron Cristatum)
    ‘Ephraim’ Crested Wheatgrass Agropyron cristatum (L.) A. Gaertn. A Conservation Plant Release by USDA NRCS Aberdeen Plant Materials Center, Aberdeen, Idaho Division of Wildlife Resources, Arizona, Idaho and Utah Agricultural Experiment Stations and the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service. Conservation Uses The rhizomatous nature of Ephraim makes it a good candidate for stabilization of disturbed sites and erosion control. Under irrigated conditions Ephraim will develop rhizomes during the establishment year. Under dryland conditions rhizome production is site dependent. In sites exceeding 14 inches of mean annual rainfall, short rhizomes commonly develop by the third growing season Ephraim has established in rainfall areas as low as 8 inches annual precipitation, but provides the best stands with good forage production in areas with more than 10 inches of annual precipitation. Forage production is comparable to ‘Fairway’ crested wheatgrass. In arid sites, Ephraim is not as productive as standard crested wheatgrass, but it is adapted to a broader range of conditions than standard crested wheatgrass. Ephraim has good palatability for livestock and some wildlife. Livestock and wildlife will graze Ephraim ‘Ephraim’ crested wheatgrass. throughout the spring growing season until it becomes too coarse, and again in fall if re-growth occurs. Established ‘Ephraim’ crested wheatgrass is a cultivar released in stands can withstand very heavy grazing. 1983. Area of Adaptation and Use Description Ephraim is adapted to the sagebrush-grass, juniper and Ephraim is a long-lived, cool season, drought tolerant, mountain brush communities of the Intermountain West. introduced grass with an extensive root system. It performs best with 10 to 14 inches annual precipitation.
    [Show full text]
  • Restoring Native Plants to Crested Wheatgrass Stands
    RESEARCH ARTICLE Restoring Native Plants to Crested Wheatgrass Stands Valerie A. Fansler1 and Jane M. Mangold2,3 Abstract were similar to the undisturbed (6.8 plants/m2). Crested Crested wheatgrass (Agropyron cristatum (L.) Gaertn.) wheatgrass cover decreased in mechanical and full her- is a nonindigenous grass introduced to North America bicide treatments in trial 1 and was variable across for improving degraded rangelands. It is often criti- treatments in trial 2. Seeded species density in all treat- cized for forming nearly monotypic stands. Our objective ments (29 plants/m2) was greater than in the undisturbed was to determine the feasibility of restoring native plant treatment (18 plants/m2) 1 year after seeding in trial 1 and species to crested wheatgrass-dominated rangeland. We was similar across treatments (26 plants/m2) in trial 2. By investigated methods for suppressing crested wheatgrass the end of the study, though, all treatments resulted in sim- followed by revegetation with a mix of native species. ilar seeded species density (<5plants/m2). Results suggest We tested five suppression treatments: undisturbed, low suppression treatments were not effective and therefore did rate of glyphosate (0.25× recommended rate), high rate of not improve restoration of native species in crested wheat- glyphosate (recommended rate), 1-pass mechanical (disked grass stands. Native species establishment may require once), and 2-pass mechanical (disked twice). Procedures subsequent management to favor persistence of native were repeated in two trials in separate years. We sam- species and retard crested wheatgrass. pled density and canopy cover of crested wheatgrass and density of seeded species for three (trial 1) and two (trial 2) years.
    [Show full text]